Ford unveiled the 2019 Ford Ranger earlier this year, but it’s not slated to arrive back in the U.S. until early 2019. So until we get a chance to drive it, Ford is showing off how tough the 2019 Ranger is and how it can tackle a series of tests ranging from tacking jagged trails in the Australian Outback and towing huge loads in the hot Arizona desert.

“We torture every component – from its high-strength steel frame to its EcoBoost engine to its cloth and leather-trimmed seats – to ensure Ranger is ready for any season and nearly any terrain,” said Rick Bolt, Ford Ranger chief engineer.

Some of the tests are so extreme that a human can’t even be inside the truck. At Ford’s Michigan Proving Grounds, a fully loaded Ranger hits the brutal Silver Creek track with impacts so severe robotic drivers are used so humans don’t get injured. While in a lab, a four-post shaker table abuses Ranger for days to check against squeaks and rattles.

Production of the 2019 Ranger is scheduled to begin by the end of this year. Ford hasn’t released all the specs yet, but we do know that it will be powered by a 2.3L turbocharged EcoBoost engine that’s mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission.

“Ranger’s proven 2.3-liter EcoBoost provides a torque target on par with competing V6 engines, but with the efficiency of a four-cylinder.”

Source: Ford